Do you know how to drive a "stick shift"?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (240826)
Walnut Creek, California
July 25, 2026 12:30pm CST
I heard on the radio the other day that fewer and fewer Americans know how to drive a stick shift automobile. I also heard that stick shifts cost more, rather than less, than an automatic of the same model. Most are sports cars.
In Europe,I noted that more people still drive stick shifts, relative to here in the US. This was a few years ago. though I have no idea what most people drive in the Philippines or India.
I have mostly driven sticks across my lifetime. But my (recent) Chevy Silverado and my current Nissan small pick-up are both automatics.
Do you know how to drive a stick? What do most people drive where you live?
23 people like this
23 responses
@wolfgirl569 (141099)
• Marion, Ohio
25 Jul
Yes I can and actually prefer them. But they are hard to find now
5 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (141099)
• Marion, Ohio
25 Jul
@TheHorse That can be a pain but I got used to it
3 people like this
@TheHorse (240826)
• Walnut Creek, California
26 Jul
@wolfgirl569 Heh. I never got used to going up hills in San Francisco with a stick.
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (128269)
• United States
25 Jul
One of the things Europeans were saying they liked about America during the World Cup besides how nice we are, Ranch dressing, and a lot less roundabouts, was that so many cars here are automatic. While my dad can drive a stick shift, I can’t, and don’t care to learn. Most of the people I know who can drive a stick are guys though.
5 people like this
@moffittjc (129777)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Jul
My current truck is an automatic, but most of the vehicles I have driven in my lifetime were stick shifts. I would prefer stick over automatic, but like you said it is more expensive to get the stick option.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (129777)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Jul
@TheHorse That makes a lot of sense. But living in flat Florida, I really never had any issues with burning out a clutch. In fact, I put 315,000 miles on my Jeep CJ7 and never once replaced the clutch.
4 people like this
@TheHorse (240826)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Jul
@moffittjc Yeppers. I have gotten well over 200,000 miles on all of my standard transmission vehicles.
3 people like this
@anya12adwi (10369)
• India
25 Jul
I have forgotten driving car but Indians mostly use stick shift cars, although many are buying automatic cars!
3 people like this
@anya12adwi (10369)
• India
26 Jul
@TheHorse What do you think is the difference between stick shift and automatic cars? Especially driving experience is busy roads
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (240826)
• Walnut Creek, California
27 Jul
@anya12adwi I've done OK with both. Stick requires a bit more attention, and coordination of more body parts.
@MarieCoyle (63484)
•
25 Jul
I learned to drive on a three speed on the column…over the years I have owned and driven some cars that were stick shift. Fun to drive until you have little ones and then sometimes mama just can’t manage a stick shift with a pack of children. My oldest son had a stick for some time until last year, I enjoyed driving it. Some things you don’t ever forget. I taught all of my kids how to drive a stick as well as an automatic. I wanted them to know how in case they ever needed to.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (240826)
• Walnut Creek, California
26 Jul
@MarieCoyle Yep.One never knows what situations might arise.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (63484)
•
26 Jul
@TheHorse
I am glad, too. You never know what situation in life you could be in and have to possibly drive a stick shift car...and I wanted them to know how.
2 people like this
@crossbones27 (53989)
• Mojave, California
25 Jul
I never learned, I did try a couple of times but ended up getting frustrated because its hard to learn in this populated area. We started in parking lot at night but this place is crazy, bunch of people still roll up on you.
They tried to teach me in one of my last days in National Guard also, its best I do not learn, I told them. One less thing to worry about with these crazy California drivers. Its my excuse and I am sticking to it. 
3 people like this
@FourWalls (88000)
• United States
25 Jul
Yes, I know how to drive a manual transmission. If I had my druthers, I’d still be driving one. Alas, my back doesn’t like me sitting in traffic holding the clutch down. 
3 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (40052)
• Toccoa, Georgia
25 Jul
No, i do not, only automatic. Most people drive automatic where I live.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (178595)
• United States
26 Jul
Yes, my last Daytona was a stick shift. I loved that car!
Most people around here drive automatics.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (178595)
• United States
26 Jul
@TheHorse I don't know why but manufacturers do seem to be phasing them out.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (101343)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
25 Jul
Never did learn that always automatic but do remember an amusing incident in Latvia. I had my car shipped there from the US with an automatic, but I had to renew my Latvian driver's license. All the cars were stick shift, so a kind and understanding instructor had me drive a car while he did stick shift and I got a renewed driver's license.
3 people like this
@teamfreak16 (47023)
• Denver, Colorado
26 Jul
I prefer a stick whenever I happen to actually own a vehicle. I don't at the moment.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (240826)
• Walnut Creek, California
26 Jul
@teamfreak16 Do you have a grocery store near you?
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (47023)
• Denver, Colorado
26 Jul
@TheHorse - I just don't want to deal with the hassle of payments and insurance and upkeep right now. I'll get another one at some point.
2 people like this
@Ineeddentures (46394)
•
25 Jul
Yes
I learned in a manual car.
We call it a manual and a non stick shift is an automatic
I can drive both types of motorbikes
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (213450)
• United States
25 Jul
Yes, but haven't in years. I think they are falling out of favor.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (194383)
• Boise, Idaho
26 Jul
It's been about 35 years since I drove a stick shift. It would take me some to get used to it but I probably could again. I don't know how many drive what around here. The area around Boise is a lot of farm land so alot probably do drive a shift.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (194383)
• Boise, Idaho
27 Jul
@TheHorse ........on farms they keep them around to haul and such.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (86747)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
26 Jul
I actually do. While I've never driven, I have the knowledge of someone who could. My husband's truck was a stick shift. Now, our last two vans (including this one) are automatics, because George's leg was struggling to do the clutch. So we elected for automatic so he could drive and not suffer as much.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (86747)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
26 Jul
@TheHorse In case of an emergency, George wanted me to know how to use the breaks and how to start a car. So I know how to do it in both types.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (240826)
• Walnut Creek, California
26 Jul
@kaylachan Sounds good. How is George doing today?
@JudyEv (389124)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jul
Stick shifts (manuals) are almost rare here now. When I got my licence many years ago, you had to drive a manual although you could get a licence just for an automatic. My licence hasn't changed but I wouldn't like to have to drive a manual now.
2 people like this
Europeans like a lot a more sportive driving. We do not have your large flat roads here.
